Stopper rod assemblies



"Jan. 31, 1961 SIBLSEELEY STOPFfER ROD ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 15. 1959 IINVENTOR. JY/f/PWM b. 5221f) w w" H STOPPER ROD ASSEMBLIES Sherwood B.Seeley, Staten Island, N.Y., assignor to The Joseph Dixon CrucibleCompany, Jersey City, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 15,1959, Ser. No. 846,691

2 Claims. (Cl. 2285) This invention relates to stoppers and stopper rodassemblies.

In the steel industry, the increased steel tonnages require a longerpouring time and higher pouring temperatures and have given rise to areal problem in stopper rod assemblies.

In some stopper rod assemblies a stopper bolt is inserted through a borein the bottom of the stopper, the bore being plugged after the bolt isin place. The bolt extends upwardly and is connected to the rod. Theincreased pouring temperature and increased tonnages causes acceleratederosion at the bottom or nose portion of the stopper, particularly inthe case of stoppers having plugged bottoms.

This invention has for its salient object to provide a stopper having asolid nose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper rod assemblythat is simple and practical in construction and is so constructed andarranged that the stopper rod can be easily and quickly assembled in thestopper and can be securely connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper rod assembly soworked out as to partially thermally insulate the rod or the bolt fromthe stopper.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part ofthis application, and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevationof the stopper rod assembly constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the stopper and rodillustrating the manner in which the rod securing means is inserted inthe stopper cavity or recess;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the stopper, the rod orrod bolt being illustrated above the stopper bore; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the use of acoarse grain refractory instead of the strong refractory balls as shownin Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, there isshown a stopper having a solid nose 11 and having a downwardly extendingbore 12 which merges with an undercut, tapered recess 13.

The stopper rod by means of which the stopper is lifted is usuallyconnected to a stopper bolt 15, and the bolt 15 has a flange or washer16 at its lower end. In the present embodiment of the invention eitherthe flanged stopper rod or the flanged bolt 15 is inserted and SttesPatent 0 2,969,568 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 moved downwardly through thebore 12 into the recess 13 and, if desired, the recess may have anextension 17 dimensioned to receive the flange or washer 16. This,however, is not necessary to the operation of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the stopper rod bolt 15 issecured to the stopper. The bolt or rod 15 is tilted as shown so thatthe bolt rests against one side of the bore 12. Then a plurality ofstrong refractory balls 29 are dropped into the undercut recess 13 sothat they will surround the lower end of the rod or bolt 15 and will bedisposed above the flange or washer 16 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.The bolt is then tilted back to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1,and the balls 20 will be wedged tightly in the undercut, tapered recess13, firmly and securely holding the stopper rod bolt 15 in the stopper.If desired, a refractory grain may be inserted in the recess 13 throughthe bore 12 and cement may be applied, and also, the space around thebolt in the bore 12 may be filled with cement.

If desired, instead of using the balls 20, a strong coarse refractorygrain may be used, the grain being of a size to pass between the rodbolt and through the bore 12 when the bolt is actually alined. Finegrain refractory may then be added to fill the voids. Thereafter arefractory cement will be applied to the opening in the bore around therod bolt.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularlyshown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capableof modification and that changes in the construction and in thearrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stopper rod assembly comprising a stopper having portions formingan undercut recess communicating with a bore of reduced cross-sectionand opening into the upper surface of said stopper, stopper rod meansincluding a lower flange portion receivable axially through said stopperbore and recess and positionable in angular relation therein, aplurality of individual locking means independently receivablelongitudinally through said stopper bore and disposed in said recesslaterally of said bore in overlying relationship to said flange portionand. forming voids therebetween, said locking means combining to preventwithdrawal of said rod means flange through said stopper recess andbore, and retaining means in said bore and circumposed about said rodmeans for retaining said assembly integral, said locking meanscomprising individual substantially spherical ball elements.

2. The structure of claim 1; said ball elements comprising a refractorymaterial.

References Cited in the file of this patent Bidner Apr. 28, 1959

